BTS Skytrain

The BTS Skytrain is the quickest and easiest way to get around central Bangkok. It runs on two lines – the Sukhumvit Line and Silom Line – linking Bangkok’s central business districts and covering almost all of the central city.

If you’re staying in Sukhumvit or Silom, the BTS will help you avoid the city’s traffic jams and get from one point to another quickly at a low cost. Tickets start from 15 baht a trip – check the BTS price table for more information.

It’s important to note that the BTS does not cover the Rattanakosin area. If you’re staying around Khao San Road, you’ll need to take a taxi or boat to Saphan Taksin Station, where you can connect to the BTS Silom Line and get around the city.

Bangkok MRT

Bangkok MRT @ Youtube

Completed in 2004, the MRT is Bangkok’s second mass transit system. It covers the northern section of Bangkok and connects with the BTS at Asok (MRT: Sukhumvit), Sala Daeng (MRT: Si Lom) and Mo Chit (MRT: Chatuchak Park) stations.

The MRT is the most convenient transport option if you’re staying in the northern section of the city. It has a station inside Chatuchak Market (Kamphaeng Phet) and connects to Bangkok’s central train station at Hua Lamphong.

Like the BTS, the MRT doesn’t cover the Rattanakosin area. Tickets for the MRT are sold separately from the BTS, so if you’re travelling using a Rabbit Card you’ll need to purchase a separate ticket from the MRT station.

Taxis

Bangkok might be infamous for its traffic jams, but getting around by taxi can be a surprisingly fast and cheap way to travel through the city, provided you choose the right time to travel.

Most taxi drivers in Bangkok won’t speak English, so make sure you write down the name of your destination (your hotel’s staff can help with this) before you go. Avoid taking the taxi during the morning and evening if you’re located close to the BTS.

Make sure your taxi driver agrees to use the meter – if he doesn’t, it’s worth waiting for another taxi. Avoid using taxis parked outside hotels and tourist attractions as they’ll often refuse to turn on their meters and instead quote inflated fares.

Bangkok taxis start from 35 baht and are easy to find anywhere in the city. If you’re located in the central city, you can use GrabTaxi to call a public taxi or Uber to travel around Bangkok in a private car.

Motorcycle Taxis

Motorcycle taxis are a quick and convenient option for travelling short distances in Bangkok. They’re usually located near BTS and MRT stations and outside shopping malls and attractions – look for a people wearing orange, purple or green vests.

Bangkok’s motorcycle taxis aren’t metered, so you’ll need to agree on a fare before you depart. Some motorcycle taxi stations will have a fare board with destinations and prices, although most will only list destinations in Thai.

If you need to travel more than one kilometre, a taxi will normally be safer and more cost effective than a motorcycle taxi. For short distances, motorcycle taxis are a fast, albeit potentially hazardous, way to get around the city.

Tuk Tuks

Tuk Tuk in Thailand: Good or bad? @ Too Timid and Squeamish

Bangkok’s tuk tuks might be iconic, but they’re generally best avoided unless you have no other options. Loud, uncomfortable and infamous for aggressive pricing, they’re a fun experience once or twice but not a reliable transportation option.

Tuk tuks are infamous for quoting massively inflated prices, so make sure you’re aware of how far your travelling and the equivalent price for a meter taxi if you choose to take a tuk tuk. Always negotiate the fare before you get in the tuk tuk.

While riding in a tuk tuk can be a fun experience, they’re not regarded as the most reliable transport option in Bangkok. Unless you have no other options, it’s almost always safer, cheaper and easier to just take a metered taxi.

River and Canal Boats

Bangkok has an extensive canal network that, although far from clean, is one of the quickest ways to get around the city. Boats run along the city’s major canals, as well as the Chao Phraya River, making it easy to avoid the city’s infamous traffic jams.

If you’re travelling in a group, you can also hire a private river taxi to take you along the Chao Phraya River. River taxis usually charge by the hour – agree to a small fare first and negotiate an hourly rate once you’re on board to avoid paying extra.

Walking or Cycling

Getting around Bangkok on foot is possible, especially if you’re staying close to Siam or Chit Lom, where elevated skywalks make it easy to avoid the traffic. However, the city’s sidewalks are not the friendliest and you’ll need to watch out for obstacles.

Skywalks connect the major shopping malls in Ratchaprasong, making it easy to get from Siam to Chit Lom on foot. There are also elevated walkways near Asoke station, connecting the BTS to nearby shopping malls and buildings.

Overall situation

Grand Palace, a gathering place of scammers @ Thailand Expert

It’s not a problem unique to Thailand by any means – anywhere you get lots of tourists, you also get a few unscrupulous people trying to con them out of their money. There is quite a variety of scams in Bangkok, but they are all easily avoided with a little bit of thought.

One classic Bangkok scam involves being sold gems at supposedly a fraction of their real value… only to find out they are fake or very poor quality stones when arriving home. Another, the much more common scam is being sweet-talked into buying a tailor made suit at a supposed bargain price – and then, after paying up front, getting something that doesn’t fit properly and is made of polyester rather than the promised cashmere.

Another common Bangkok scam is being approached by a well-spoken, well-dressed gentleman outside the Grand Palace and being told it is closed for a prayer ceremony. The well-spoken gentleman will then suggest a tour of nearby temples and, oh look, here’s a tuk-tuk that will take you. Inevitably the tour turns into a succession of gem and suit shops trying to sell you something that will waste your entire afternoon if you’re not careful.

All these and several more Bangkok scams are documented on the excellent BangkokScams.com website. It’s definitely worth scanning through the different con-tricks to try and recognise when someone is trying to pull a fast one.

5 golden rules to follow

Bangkok electronic @ Youtube

1) Never accept a free ride or very cheap tour in a tuk-tuk. These guys are almost always after your money and you are somewhat trapped once you’re in the backseat.

2) Don’t buy gems or suits or anything else of large value off the street. If you want a suit, head to Sukhumvit and go to one of the established tailor shops rather than being pressured with a load of smooth sales patter. Know what you want before you go and ensure you have plenty of time for several fittings. If you want to buy gems, go through an established retailer unless you are professionally able to tell whether an offered stone really is good value or not.

3) Possibly the most important – don’t be blinded by greed. If it seems too good to be true, then it very probably is.

4) Remain polite at all times when talking to strangers, even if you think they are a con artist. You may well be wrong. The language barrier can sometimes cause confusion. If in doubt, politely decline whatever’s being offered. A few words of Thai can really help. If you say “Mai aow, kap”, it’s the polite Thai way of saying “I don’t want it, thanks”. (Women would say “Mai aow, ka”). I’ve found that people leave you alone very quickly if it seems like you speak Thai.

5) Watch out for shoddy fake goods, like the fake iPods that have been seen in Bangkok markets. IT shopping malls like Pantip Plaza and Fortune Town have lots of stalls selling pirate software and movie DVDs, so be careful of what you install or use on your computer.

Decisions, Decisions

Bed Supperclub @ Trover

By the time you come back from the klong tour, it will be around 4 to 5 pm. At this point, you’ll probably be pretty hot and tired. From Saphan Taksin you’ve got several options. You can get back on the river taxi to Pa Athit and return to your guesthouse to take a shower and relax for a bit; if you can’t face the river anymore you can jump in a taxi and brave the Bangkok traffic in air-conditioned luxury. If you are still up for seeing more of Bangkok, you can head away from the river and head into the centre of the city on the Skytrain. If you want to head to nightclubs like Bed Supperclub, best put on your best clothes and get some extra cash.

Dinner

If you head back to your guesthouse, there are scores of places around Pa Athit and Khao San Road where you can find cheap eats for dinner. Rambutree road has some very good places – Khao San tends to be busy and overpriced. Pa Athit itself has some excellent restaurants where Thai students and intelligentsia hang out, but they’re not especially cheap.

You can have a hearty dinner on Rambutree for around 150 Baht. After dinner, you can stroll on Khao San doing some window shopping or just nurse a beer and people watch – Khao San is definitely a great place for that. Indeed, you could grab some Pad Thai and spring rolls for 30 Baht for dinner and spend the rest on booze – or save some for post beer munchies later. I don’t recommend doing this every night though…

I overshot a little bit, but you can see that it’s quite feasible to have a full on day in Bangkok for around $30 / $40, including accommodation and food, without feeling like you are purposely economising. You could skip the klong tour and take your pick from the huge bunch of things you can do in Bangkok for free if you were really strapped for cash. Similarly, I am personally very fond of my food, so you could probably shave a few baht off each meal expense, but it’s important to remember to eat well and healthily when travelling.

Instead of the Grand Palace, Wat Po and the Klong Tour, there are plenty of other places in Bangkok, like Jim Thompson’s house, which you can go and see instead that cost around the same sort of money or less. Therefore if you spent several days in Bangkok, a budget of $30 a day would be fairly consistent over each day.

I think the hidden costs of travelling are actually partying and shopping. Booze in Thailand is cheap – it’s a couple of dollars for a bottle of beer – but drink 2 or 3 beers a night and it quickly adds up. Cigarettes are also cheap – but a pack is another couple of dollars a day. Similarly with shopping – Bangkok is a shopper’s paradise that’s awash with fake designer goods and tshirts etc. Once you start snapping up bargains it starts to chew up money quite quickly too.

Remember too that Bangkok is not necessarily representative of all of Thailand. Accommodation in Bangkok is cheap because there is so much of it – on places like Koh Phi Phi and other Thai Islands, accommodation can get expensive and the cheap options where they exist are often squalid. That said, if you find a decent beach hut for 300 baht a night and do little else but soak up the sun and drink a few beers for a few days, a week in Thailand is going to cost you a lot less than $30 a day.

Accommodation

Get a room in the morning at the Wild Orchid hostel just off the Khao San Road by the river in the Pa Athit district. Wild Orchid’s cheapest rooms are 200 Baht a night (last time I checked anyway) – big enough for a single bed and your backpack. They arecell likein a monastic rather than jailsense. WO is well decorated and the shared bathrooms are bright and well-maintained, withnicetiled decor. There are plenty of other cheap Bangkok hotels in the same area

Breakfast

Breakfast in Thailand @ Bangkok Has You

Wild Orchid’s restaurant is nice to hang around in but quite pricey. Wander around the corner to Rickys for awesome cafe latte and baguettes, or if you want Thai food first thing, beautifully prepared salads. This is going on the idea that breakfast is the most important meal of the day so you want to stock up. If you drop the coffee and have a juice instead, you’ll save a dollar straight away. But some of us can’t live without frothy coffee…Breakfast: 150 baht

River taxi

From Ricki’s it’s a very short walk to the river taxi. This is a quintessential part of experiencing Bangkok and incredibly cheap – 12 Baht will get you all the way from Pa Athit (the river station at which you are currently located) all the way down to Saphan Taksin, where you can jump onto the BTS Skytrain. Best of all, you get to see Bangkok’s fascinating riverfront, with skyscrapers, shrines and slums side by side. For this journey though, you want to get off beforehand, at Tha Tien stop.River taxi: 10 baht

Lunch

There is an excellent outdoor riverside restaurant at Arun Residence, with an outdoor deck and spectacular view of Wat Arun on the opposite bank of the river. This is back at the riverfront, only a hundred metres or so parallel to the Tha Tien riverside taxi station. While Arun Residence is quite a fine dining, the prices are reasonable – a sandwich should be no more than 100 Baht. There are definitely cheaper options for lunch, but few will have such an amazing view in relaxing surroundings.Lunch: 150 Baht (with drink – juice etc)

So, by 2pm, we’re over half way through the daily budget. For the afternoon, there are a few more things that can be done on the river. You can visit the Wat Arun and see it up close by simply catching a ferry across the river for around 10 Baht. I can’t remember the cost of entering Wat Arun (if it has a cost) but it’s unlikely to be more than 100 Baht.

Klong TourKloon

Klong Tour @ Aspara Tours

One of the best things to do in Bangkok is the Klong tour – seeing the old canals of Bangkok and the people who still live on them from a longtail boat – the impossibly thin and elegant vessels with their propellers mounted on super long crankshafts made famous in James Bond’s Man With The Golden Gun.

A klong tour can be several hours long, with stop-offs at lots of different places which are of varying interest – you can even choose a version to stop for lunch if you like. Personally, I’m fond of doing a two-hour version which takes a big U shaped route around the canals, slowly motoring down the waterways so you can properly see the amazing variety and style of the houses built on the waterfront. And get to wave to the kids who are invariably taking a dip and pushing each other in too.

Depending on the length of time and your bargaining skills, a klong tour can be about 1000 baht for 2 hours. Therefore if there are four of you, it will be around 250 Baht each. This is one of those times where it’s good to find likeminded people if you can.

To catch the boat for a klong tour, you need to jump back on the river taxi and head down to Saphan Taksin river station. The river taxi won’t cost more than 10 Baht.Klong tour: 250 Baht (with four people)

Travel light

Floating markets in Thailand @ Blavity

Thailand gets over 11 million tourists visiting a year. It may be a developing country, but you can buy just about anything you want here, and cheaper than at home (assuming your first stop is Bangkok). As such, only bring a few items of clothing with you; you can buy tshirts, shorts, bikinis, jackets, trousers etc by the armful for very little cash when you first arrive. Same goes for sunscreen, sunglasses and the contents of your toilet bag. Getting laundry done is cheap and easy. Plus, given that it’s a tropical country and you’ll be pretty active, you’ll probably want to ditch your clothes after every couple of months anyway.

Be prepared for culture shock

Even though you will have no trouble finding a McDonalds or Starbucks in Bangkok, Thailand is still very very different to America or Europe. Some snobby travel writers whine about Thailand becoming too Westernised and just like everywhere else. They’ve obviously walked around the country with their eyes shut. When you first arrive in Bangkok, you will find it extremely hot, incredibly chaotic and pretty overwhelming. You will be craving a McDonald’s just to go somewhere which is clean and quiet.

After the first day or so, once you’ve got over the jet lag and started getting your bearings, you’ll begin to enjoy it a lot more. Most people begin their time in Bangkok staying around the Khao San Road area – and it’s a good place to be based, especially the Rambutri / Pa Athit area next to the river which is quieter and better value than Khao San itself.

This is where you can stock up on cheap clothes and CDs, sample lots of great Thai food cooked up by street vendors, sit around in plethora of bars, meet lots of other travellers and generally chill out. You can also browse and book a bigger selection of Bangkok hotels online too if you’re looking for a little more luxury. There are some excellent boutique hotels in Bangkok if you want something unique too.

Bangkok Rocks

Many amazing temples in Thailand @ Weekend Thrill

I have to admit, when I first got to Bangkok, I absolutely hated it. Now I’ve been living here for a year, I’ve grown fond of the city and found quite a few great things to do. So, even if you feel like leaving Bangkok the moment you arrive, give it a chance. You have to be prepared to brave the Bangkok traffic and get out of the backpacker ghetto – but you can avoid the roads by heading from Khao San down the river on one of the ferries to Saphan Taksin and get onto the BTS Skytrain there, which will take you all over BKK. Taxis are cheap and plentiful, but be prepared to get stuck in Bangkok’s notorious gridlock.

There’s the obvious tourist stuff like the Grand Palace and the Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho; the Bangkok Canal (Klong) tour for that Venice Of The East feel (and to reenact James Bond’s waterway chase too if you want); taking in the spectacular skyline view at Vertigo, South East Asia’s highest open air bar; and finding the green spaces amongst Bangkok’s concrete jungle for some respite. Visit Jim Thompson’s House for a tour of a beautiful traditional Thai house stacked with beautiful Buddha antiquities – and it also has a great restaurant. Indeed, there is a plethora of great restaurants and nightclubs in Bangkok too, like Crepes And Co .

See The Real Thailand – Volunteer and teaching work

There are plenty of opportunities for volunteer and teaching work in Thailand, and for a foreigner it is the ideal way to see the real Thailand and live and work amongst the Thais. There are teaching jobs available all over the country which you can pick up quite easily while in the country. Teaching English In Thailand has the full details of what you can expect about trying to get an English teaching job in Thailand. For volunteer opportunities, check out TransitionsAbroad.com and VolunThai.com – and save the gibbons! Lastly, you might want to consider visiting one of the foreigners serving time in Bangkok’s prisons to offer some moral support and take some food and reading material – it’s a sobering reminder that while you’re in Thailand, you definitely should make sure you stay on the right side of the law.

]]>Tips for an easy trip in Thailandhttp://thailandvacations.biz/travel-tips/tips-for-an-easy-trip-in-thailand.html
Wed, 25 Oct 2017 10:27:21 +0000http://thailandvacations.biz/?p=169Thailand is one of the most notable countries in Asia when it comes to travelling. It has a rich culture as well as friendly people and beautiful sceneries. But there are things you need to know and watch out for in Thailand. It is always good to be prepared.

]]>Thailand is one of the most notable countries in Asia when it comes to travelling. It has a rich culture as well as friendly people and beautiful sceneries. But there are things you need to know and watch out for in Thailand. It is always good to be prepared.

Go slow

Don’t try to fit in too much. You’re almost certain to start in Bangkok and we recommend you don’t rush off. Instead, allow a few days to soak up the vibrant capital’s up-for-it atmosphere, including at least one night on the notorious Khao San Road, before heading south to the islands, or north to Thailand’s second city Chiang Mai. To do both you’ll need at least two weeks; if you’ve got three add Kanchanaburi and the infamous Bridge Over the River Kwai to your itinerary.

What wat?

Wat Phra Kaeo via Mekongtravel

Thailand is a country of temples, from the magnificent to the miniature, but try to visit them all and you’ll soon find yourself fatigued. Narrow it down to the big-hitters instead like Wat Pho and Wat Phra Kaeo in Bangkok, and Wat Phra Si Sanphet in Ayutthaya. Remember that Thailand is about more than architectural splendour, the street-life and beach-life are just as much a part of the experience.

Savvy street food

Thailand street food via Downshiftology

Thai street food is abundant, high quality and astoundingly cheap. But it can also be a fast track to food poisoning. Take sensible precautions such as washing hands before and afterwards, and above all: eat where there are crowds; a faster turnover means fresher food. And don’t drink the tap water.

Repel the enemy

Mosquitoes are everywhere, but that doesn’t mean resigning yourself to being bitten. Use a spray-on repellent with at least 50% deet during the day (100% at night) and treat clothes with a permethrin spray as soon as you arrive in the country. Be sure to do this outside though and leave for a while to dry – it’s nasty stuff.

To market

A marketplace via Viet Tourist

Visiting an open-air market is a must-do and it is here that you will find the best prices and often the best goods. Thailand is a mecca for counterfeit products though, so be aware that what you’re buying is unlikely to be genuine, and never forget to haggle – the first price you’re quoted should come down by at least a third. Some of the best markets are Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok, Tha Kha Floating Market near Samut Songkhram and Chiang Mai’s Night Bazaar.

Get the best beds

If you’re on a budget and planning to stay in hostels and guesthouses, simply turning up and requesting a room is the cheapest way to go, and thanks to Thailand’s flourishing tourism industry you’re unlikely to have trouble finding a bed. Bear in mind though that air conditioning often costs extra and is worth every penny during the hottest months (typically May to October). If you’re willing to spend a little more on your accommodation, book mid-range or luxury hotels in advance to secure the best deals.

Sidestep scams

At times, it can feel a little like there is someone trying to rip you off on every corner in Thailand and it pays to keep your wits about you. Don’t trust randomly helpful strangers who come up to you in the street with information about public holidays and closed temples; check with your hostel or hotel instead. Always agree a price before getting in a tuk tuk and insist on any taxi you use being metered. Keep your belongings as close to you as possible, ideally strung around you in a zipped up bag.

Surely you will feel more safer when you come to Thailand mentally and physically prepared. Hope you have a wonderful time visiting the country of temples.

]]>Bangkok Hotel Lotus Sukhumvithttp://thailandvacations.biz/hotels-and-resorts/bangkok-hotel-lotus-sukhumvit.html
Wed, 25 Oct 2017 10:20:18 +0000http://thailandvacations.biz/?p=161A good hotel that situates inside the Central Business District of Bangkok, Thailand. It also has a built-in spa.

Special features

Spa

Lotus Spa has 4 treatment rooms. Services include massages, facials, body wraps, and body scrubs. A variety of treatment therapies are provided, including aromatherapy and hydrotherapy. The spa is equipped with a sauna.

The spa is open daily.

Bangkok Hotel Lotus Sukhumvit ’s small print

Also known as

Bangkok Hotel Lotus Sukhumvit Managed Accor

Bangkok Hotel Lotus Sukhumvit Managed by AccorHotels

Policies

The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation.

For transfers, guests must contact the property 72 hours prior to arrival at the number on the booking confirmation.

Reservations are required for massage services and spa treatments and can be made by contacting the property before arrival at the number on the booking confirmation.

Optional extras

Rollaway beds are available for THB 1177 per night

Buffet breakfast is offered for an extra charge of THB 589 for adults and THB 295 for children (approximately)

Babysitting/childcare is available for an extra charge

Airport shuttle service is offered for an extra charge of THB 2000 per vehicle (one way)

]]>Royal Princess Larn Luang, Bangkokhttp://thailandvacations.biz/hotels-and-resorts/royal-princess-larn-luang-bangkok.html
Wed, 25 Oct 2017 09:56:15 +0000http://thailandvacations.biz/?p=152A hotel that is extremely close to major sites in the Bangkok city in Thailand, like Emerald Budhha.

Special features

Spa

SATA SPA has massage/treatment rooms and couples treatment room(s). Services include Swedish massages, Thai massages, massages, and facials. A variety of treatment therapies are provided, including aromatherapy and reflexology. The spa is equipped with a steam room.

Children under 12 years old are not allowed in the spa without adult supervision. Guests under 18 years old are not allowed in the spa.

Royal Princess Larn Luang, Bangkok’s small print

Also known as

Larn Luang

Princess Larn Luang

Policies

Children under 12 years old are not allowed in the spa without adult supervision.

Guests under 18 years old are not allowed in the spa.

For transfers, guests must contact the property before arrival at the number on the booking confirmation.

Reservations are required for massage services and spa treatments and can be made by contacting the property before arrival at the number on the booking confirmation.

Mandatory fees

Deposit: THB 1500 per stay

Optional extras

Rollaway beds are available for THB 1295.0 per night

Buffet breakfast is offered for an extra charge of THB 530 for adults and THB 412 for children (approximately)

Babysitting/childcare is available for an extra charge

Airport shuttle service is offered for an extra charge of THB 1400 per vehicle (roundtrip)

]]>Novotel Bangkok On Siam Square, Bangkokhttp://thailandvacations.biz/hotels-and-resorts/novotel-bangkok-on-siam-square-bangkok.html
Wed, 25 Oct 2017 09:49:15 +0000http://thailandvacations.biz/?p=145A hotel that also belongs to the series of Novotels in Bangkok, Thailand.

]]>Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resorthttp://thailandvacations.biz/hotels-and-resorts/anantara-riverside-bangkok-resort.html
Wed, 25 Oct 2017 09:41:23 +0000http://thailandvacations.biz/?p=138One of the best resorts in Bangkok city, Thailand when it comes to the quality of the breakfast and the fantastic service.